Compaq fudges over cost of migrating customers

Compaq has put out and then withdrawn a statement that its next quarterly results would be hit by an exceptional charge.

The company filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing its efforts to migrate customers inherited through the acquisition of Digital from its Windows/Alpha platform to current product lines, would cost between $150m and $250m over the next two quarters.

On Tuesday, Compaq said the costs would show up as discrete charges on its balance sheet. But by Wednesday, the computer company had changed its tune and said the costs would be absorbed into normal operating costs.